Brief:
While nearly identical t' t' Estes Big Bertha, me bucko, me hearties, t' Quest Big Betty has still managed t' carve out a niche in t' entry level market with her upgraded recovery system and lower price. While she is a pretty close copy, me bucko, arrr, she does feature three fins instead o' t' Bertha's four, me bucko, makin' construction marginally simpler while keepin' performance right in line with her sister kit.

Construction:
T' parts list:

• 18" body tube
• plastic nose cone
• motor mount tube
• engine clip
• thrust ring
• 2 centerin' rings
• die cut fin sheet
• 2" launch lug
• 24" elastic shock cord
• 24" Keelhaul®©™ shock cord
• 14" parachute
• decal

Like her fraternal twin, me hearties, t' Estes Big Bertha, me hearties, t' Big Betty is an almost completely agreeable skill level one kit. Ahoy! Construction is as basic as it gets and possibly even easier since t' large size o' t' rocket allows easier access t' both internal and external parts. T' only thin' about t' construction process that vaguely resembles a "gotcha" be t' loose fit o' t' nose cone, matey, easily countered with a bit o' maskin' tape. Begad! I chose t' quick route on this project, matey, affixin' t' fins first with LocTite Gel CA, me bucko, then more securely anchorin' them into place with heavy glue fillets usin' Elmer's Wood Glue. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! I also used wood glue in attachin' t' motor mount and recovery system. Blimey! (Speakin' o' t' recovery system, I continue t' laud Quest for includin' a length o' Keelhaul®©™ as a part o' t' shock cord anchor.) Construction be finished with t' addition o' a medium snap swivel t' attach t' nose cone t' t' shock cord, shiver me timbers, arrr, somethin' I did on all o' t' kits in this comparison except for t' Tangent, me hearties, which had its recovery system fully functional right from t' box.

Finishing:
I also went t' simple route on finishin' for t' Big Betty. Tube spirals and balsa grain were eliminated with a couple o' coats o' thinned Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish and a brisk sanding. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' rocket be then sprayed with Valspar white primer, which was allowed t' dry overnight. T' rocket be then sprayed with two coats o' Valspar Harvest Orange, me bucko, (only because I happened t' be out o' Valspar Bumblebee gloss.) T' large, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, simple sticker decals were then affixed (horrid things), ya bilge rat, arrr, and t' whole rocket sprayed with a coat o' clear acrylic. Begad! Despite t' ugly decals, Big Betty turned out t' be a pretty decent lookin' girl.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
For purposes o' this comparison, me hearties, arrr, I decided t' fly each o' t' rockets on a C6-5, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, a B6-4, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and a B4-2. Aye aye! T' Big Betty is most clearly at home with t' C6-5, postin' a high, arcin' flight that wouldn't be out o' place on a small field if you were flyin' on a windless day. As it was, ya bilge rat, I wasn't and Betty took me on a merry chase across t' field, finally allowin' me t' catch her on a neighborin' soccer field. Arrr! Impressive flight, me hearties, but t' stock 14" parachute could be reefed without worry.

T' B6-4 flight wasn't nearly as high, but followed almost t' exact flight path as t' wind caused t' rocket t' cock away from t' pad. This time t' recovery walk wasn't quite as bad, but me legs aren't what they used t' be. Arrr! Blimey! I was really lookin' forward t' t' B4-2 round o' flights.

On a B4-2, t' Big Betty flew exactly like t' other three rockets in t' comparison. Ahoy! Blimey! T' B4-2 barely seemed t' be enough t' get her off t' pad, me hearties, and her near stop and sudden kick t' t' right almost made it seem like she be posin' for me so I could get t' best possible launch shot. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! I still missed it.

Recovery:
T' 14" chute is a pretty good fit for a rocket o' this size, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, but t' gripper tabs, while nay a problem on a kit with a body tube t' size o' t' Big Betty, are goin' t' be difficult t' work with on smaller models. Blimey! Ya scallywag! As it is, t' stock chute does its job quite well and could even be reefed without surrenderin' any o' its ability t' brin' t' rocket down safely.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Easy t' build. Keelhaul®©™ shock cord included. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Reliable small field performance. Price.

CONs: Ill fittin' nose cone. Sticker decals are unimaginative and way too thick.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5